[Oregonian]

My wife and I will stay a week with friends in Iguape, on the coast south of Sao Paulo in late March. They'll be looking for orchids, but I get to tag along. Is there anything I need to know about birding the area? Spots not to miss? Interesting species to look for?

Thanks,
Jeff

[dacol]

The last time I was in Iguape was 17 years ago and I wasn't birding. Hopefully someone better informed will answer your query. But nearby you will find coastal lowland Atlantic forest, montane Atlantic forest, sandplain (Restinga) forest and scrub and mangroves. The mangroves harbor a small population of Scarlet Ibis, one of the few in SE Brazil. In the restinga formation at nearby Ilha Comprida as well as on a few spots on the mainland look for Red-tailed Parrot ( Amazona brasiliensis), Restinga Tyrannulet (Phylloscartes kronei), Black-headed Berryeater (Carpornis melanocephala) and Black-backed Tanager (Tangara peruviana) which are specialties of this habitat. Black-legged Dacnis (Dacnis nigripes) also occurs in this area, another endemic of SE coastal Brazil. If you have access to forested habitats it will be very birdy. Evidently you will need a field guide book. Von Perlo's book will be very helpful: A Field Guide to the Birds of Brazil by Ber van Perlo. For bird calls: BIRDS OF BRAZIL: MP3 Sound Collection by Peter Boesman / Birdsounds.nl, 2006, a DVD with mp3 files. Or you can dowload mp3s for free from xeno-canto.org

Dalcio

[Oregonian]

Dalcio,

Thanks for the information - just the sort of thing I was looking for.

I have Von Perlo's book, as well as Sousa's from a trip a few years ago, and even Frisch's Aves Brasileiras, though it doesn't do much for me. Also Sick's huge book, though I won't pack it, and Develey's Guia de Campo - Aves da Grande Sao Paulo. Still, the range maps don't make it clear what will be right there.

I hope to get into forested habitats - Google Earth makes it look like there is a lot of natural habitat around. Our local contact says he will get permission to enter a local reserve, but I don't know details.

Thanks again,
Jeff

[barantes]

Hi Jeff.

I've never been to Iguape, but Iguape is about 4h from the famous Intervales State Park (click here for route on Google Maps). Intervales is a well-structured park that receives birdwatchers from all the world. This trip report contains details about it (including a map of the Park) and checklists.

I think van Perlo's field guide will do the job there. You'll also find there almost all of the birds from Develey's Aves da Grande Sao Paulo.

HTH. Let me know if you have more questions.

[dacol]

Jeff,

See if your local contact can also arrange for a boat trip through the mangroves, who knows they might even know where the Scarlet Ibises are now. Ideally you would like to take a trip in a small boat with a pilot that is willing to turn off the engine and paddle the boat through the mangrove's smaller channels. Similarly, a boat trip along the Ribeira river with paddling through smaller feeding creeks etc could also be very interesting. Evidently, if time is short concentrate in forested habitats. As Bruno said Endrigo and Develey's book will also be very useful.

Dalcio

[Oregonian]

We're back from Iguape, SP and had a great time. We stayed in Barra, and saw Scarlet Ibises every time we took the ferry across. I'll try to write a few words in the vacation report forum when I can. I quite enjoyed finding a Black-backed Tanager (Tangara peruviana) in restinga nearby.

There was a pair of Unicolored Blackbirds, photo attached, that seemed a bit out of range, though Von Perlo has some red dots that look close to Iguape on his range maps.

There was also a small black crake I don't know what to make of. I flushed several, at close range and they always seemed to be all black, with black legs and a short bill. Of course they only flew a short distance before dropping into the reeds, and I never got binoculars or camera on them. I suppose I might have missed the reddish legs of a Plumbeous Rail, but they looked all black. Otherwise it would be a Dot-winged Crake. Is there anything else I should consider? I had some 6 such flushing events on two different days, all seeming the same.

Cheers,
Jeff